Esther Lape Papers, 1925-1978 | Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library & Museum
Collection Overview
Title: Esther Lape Papers, 1925-1978
Primary Creator: Lape, Esther
Extent: 2.4 Cubic Feet
Arrangement: This collection is arranged in four series: Correspondence, Subject Files (arranged in two subseries), Manuscripts, and Clippings and Printed materials.
Date Acquired: 06/01/1982
Abstract
Scope and Contents of the Materials
Collection Historical Note
Esther Lape was born on October 8, 1881 in Wilmington, Delaware. After graduating from Wellesley College, Lape continued in the world of academia as a professor of English at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania, the University of Arizona, and Barnard College in New York City. She was a researcher, journalist, and publicist. She was associated with the Women's Trade Union League and was one of the founders of the League of Women Voters.
In accordance with her efforts to promote American understanding of the need for international cooperation, Lape served as a Member-In-Charge of the American Peace Award Policy Committee in 1924. That same year the American Foundation was established with Esther Lape as director. She held that position until her reirement in 1956, but even then remained as a member of the Board of Directors. Her work with the Foundation prompted Calvin Coolidge to send her to Europe in 1927 as an unofficial envoy to secure the renewal of negotiations regarding the United States participation in the World Court. Lape's work for the Foundation also included promoting U.S. recognition of the Soviet Union in 1933 and studies of the problems of medical care in the United States.
Through her life partner, Elizabeth Read, Esther Lape became friends with Eleanor Roosevelt who worked with Lape and Read to draft articles for a weekly bulletin, City, State, and Nation. Together, the three advocated for their shared political causes, including U.S. recognition of the Soviet Union, U.S. involvement in the World Court, and the inclusion of health care in the Social Security Act. Lape particularly worked to further health care through her writings, even after World War II came to the political forefront.
Esther Lape worked closely with Eleanor Roosevelt, Narcissa Vanderlip, and Helen Reid in the women's suffrage movement in New York. In the early 1960s, Esther Lape, Lady Stella Reading, and Helen Reid established the Organizing Committee for the group asking the Nobel Committee to consider granting a posthumous award of the Peace Prize to Eleanor Roosevelt.
In July of 1972, Lape donated her 147 acre Connecticut country estate, Salt Meadow, to the Federal Government as a wildlife refuge. Esther Lape died in 1981.
Administrative Information
Repository: Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library & Museum
Access Restrictions: Material that consitutes an unwarranted invasion of privacy has been closed. The remaining materials are available for use by the general public.
Use Restrictions: Esther Lape's copyright interests in these papers have been donated to the United States Government. This material is subject to copyright restrictions under Title 17 of the U.S. Code.
Acquisition Source: Olaga M. Bendix, The Bank of New York
Acquisition Method: Gift
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Series:
[Series 1: Correspondence],
[Series 2: Subject Files],
[Series 3: Manuscripts],
[Series 4: Clippings and Printed Materials],
[All]
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Series 2: Subject Files - Includes some correspondence
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Sub-Series 1: Noble Peace Prize - Materials pertaining to Esther Lape's effort to have Eleanor Roosevelt nominated for the Nobel Prize. Includes some correspondence arranged at the beginning of the subseries.
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Box 3 -
Correspondence, Memorandums, and Research Notes Concerning Efforts to Secure The Nomination of Eleanor Roosevelt -
Correspondence with Possible Signers of the Nomination of Eleanor Roosevelt: A - F -
Correspondence with Raymond Corry (of FDRL Staff) -
Correspondence with Possible Signers of the Nomination of Eleanor Roosevelt: G -K -
Correspondence with the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library -
Correspondence with Possible Signers of the Nomination of Eleanor Roosevelt: L -O -
Correspondence with Possible Signers of the Nomination of Eleanor Roosevelt: P - R -
Correspondence with Lady Reading -
Correspondence with Helen Reid
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Box 4 -
Correspondence with Possible Signers of the Nomination of Eleanor Roosevelt: S - Y -
Complete File of Materials Sent to Nobel Committee, 1965 -
Copies of Cover Letter and Enclosures Sent to Nobel Committee -
Copies of Letters Nominating Eleanor Roosevelt and Sent to Nobel Committee: A - M -
Copies of Letters Nominating Eleanor Roosevelt and Sent to Nobel Committee: N - U -
Rules of the Nobel Committee and the Eligibility of Eleanor Roosevelt -
Working Lists of the Possible Signers of the Nomination of Eleanor Roosevelt
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Sub-Series 2: Other Subject Files -
Box 5 -
The American Foundation -
The American Foundation: Studies on Correction -
The American Foundation: Financial Matters and Minutes -
The American Foundation: "Proposal for a New Baltimore City Detention Center for Women," 1965 -
The American Peace Award -
Cadet Honor Code at West Point -
Da Capo Press, Inc. -
Franklin D. Roosevelt Library -
Lawyers Constitutional Defense Committee, 1966 -
Medical Research (reports on) -
National Broadcasting Company
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Box 6
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Browse by Series:
[Series 1: Correspondence],
[Series 2: Subject Files],
[Series 3: Manuscripts],
[Series 4: Clippings and Printed Materials],
[All]